Ferreting in Suffolk

Simon, Sooty and Romford Dave head out for a hard days ferreting
We could have been anywhere. Straddling along the fields angular slope, the water bottle on my dashboard rolled from right to left. This was Suffolk, it's meant to be flat. Staring at me was one of nature's architectural masterpieces, but, it resembled more a moon face than a rabbit warren. Chiseled away by the teeth of generations of rabbits, the large area of shorn grass was a giveaway to their presence yet it allowed a diverse compass of moss and lichens to grow. Skylarks called out as they rose above the meadow and muntjac scarpered for cover. The hand of man nor aroma of ferret had touched this warren in living memory. However alluring this was, I had to be cautious. Such a warren could be my siren, (In Greek mythology they lured sailors with enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on rocky coasts.) I wasn’t to get carried away with the romanticism painted by what I saw. I had to be a realist in order to avoid a rabbiting disaster. A warren of this magnitude deserved my respect. It would take a lot of ferrets, a few hands, eyes and ears; a few yards of netting and a very fast and competent dog to get the rabbits moving.

[@cathedralImages]

That dog is worth its weight in gold .

[@matthilsdon9710]

Great video and that lurcher is stunning!

[@jem0911]

Excellent as always.

[@markmason13]

Thats got to be one of the best ferreting vids I have seen on youtube, good work all.

[@lindarobinson2895]

Such good team work, excellent video.😀

[@motohunter2390]

Brilliant video as always fella

[@muhammadsaleem4118]

Nice dog

[@nathanwalter9324]

a good dog is worth their weight in gold top stuff simon

[@craigellishtravler2221]

Who fault is it these dogs are so loyal to man kind

[@Simonwallis30]

From one Simon to another,great work. The dog isn’t full lurcher is it? Fantastic dog,my old patterdale terrier would have a great day doing that though he’s not as fast as he used to be. He could guard any purse nets expertly tho !!

[@-bee-3474]

their little noses were poking out of the box

[@hamiltongomesdasilva9561]

Friends, I love lurchers! Greyhound mixed with other breeds. I like the aesthetics inherited from greyhounds. LONGYLIUM, CURVILIENT, MUSCULOUS body, short hair, with varied and beautiful colors. But the greyhounds' temperament does not have what I want and I look for it. I want a dog with a territorialist sense, at least, react to the arrival of strangers in my home. Does the greyhound mix German Shepherd dog produce a good watchdog? What do you say ? Or do you know of another mix that produces an animal with the appearance of greyhound but with guard dog temperament? Thank you very much.

[@irondom]

So...How many did you catch in total?

[@raybede]

C'mon boys I thought it was the ferrets and hounds which were supposed to get the excercise
That's what you feed 'em for!!!

[@zedhed_rob]

Hi, love your videos Simon. Was wondering if the Lurcher Tawny is 1st cross and what the dam/sire were? Have a 1/4 collie cross myself that looks similar, fantastic dogs.

[@ferretWhitehead]

Tawny is the result from a union of a reverse 3/4 collie greyhound (Dan) and a 3/4 collie greyhound.

[@zedhed_rob]

Thanks Simon, the collie is strong with that one :) Beautiful dog.

[@johnsmethurst2081]

Simon Whitehead The Dam to Tawny was bred by my old friend and hunting partner the late Typp Ratcher

[@ferretWhitehead]

John Smethurst yes, she was.

[@cristobalsantiago823]

and with 50% collie 50% greyhound how is it so fast? I have a 50% malinois and a 50 greyhound and he's not even half as fast

[@ruddypests2986]

Take it sooty doesn't do the Dale's then !! Haha

[@ferretWhitehead]

He does but Torchie and Tawny do all the running then...

[@montaguemonro565]

Simon, are you going to be at the game fair at hatfield house this time mate?

[@ferretWhitehead]

Yes i will.

[@smithboyspestcontrol5553]

Do they always run uphill, all of my rabbits tend to run downhill

[@ferretWhitehead]

Some days they go up, others, go down....

[@Madmicksoutdooractivities]

fantastic that i must say. the music made it mate well done.
how many meshs deep do you have the longnets simon?

[@ferretWhitehead]

I think those ones are 16 meshes.

[@carsonpaine862]

Simon will you be in the Welsh Midlands gamefair this year

[@ferretWhitehead]

Hunter Merk I am at the Midland in September.

[@carsonpaine862]

Will you be doing a ferreting display

[@ferretWhitehead]

Hunter Merk Yes

[@craigellishtravler2221]

Old skool the best in countryside some work is hard but none and source incase of emergency is very handy for us I feed my dogs these rabbits if they come upon I know pets do it on the offchance. And chase foxes but this is a country must the farmer got right to shoot u if u have no permission and it nice to see a load of rabbits there

[@willcockayne-cottrell562]

wow first viewer

[@ferretWhitehead]

That was quick....